Single use clasp



Nov. 12, 1963 R. M. TREMBLAY SINGLE USE CLASP I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 7, 1962 Nov. 12, 1963 M. TREMBLAY SINGLE USE CLASP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 7, 1962 United States Patent O s,11s,514 SINGLE USE CLAS-d Raymond M. Tremhlay, 170 Pleasant St., Whitman, Mass. Filed Sept. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 222,073 1 Claim. (Cl. 292-322) The present invention relates to a clasp and more particularly to a clasp of the so-called single use type that cannot be opened after it is once closed without deliberately destroying the clasp.

Identification bracelets as customarily used by hospitals to preserve the identities of new-born infants must be secured by a clasp or seal that will prevent the inadvertent removal of the bracelet. It has been previously proposed to use a single use clasp permanently secured to one end of a bracelet and adapted to close on and clasp the other end of the bracelet when applied to the arm or the like of the infant. Such so-called single use clasps are so formed and arranged that once they are closed they may not again be opened except by a deliberate attempt resulting in the destruction of the clasp. Since the clasp is destroyed after a single use it must be considered as expendable and therefore must be as inexpensive as possible.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved form of single use clasp that may be inexpensively formed of a single sheet of resilient material such as metal or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of single use clasp that may be easily closed by a simple movement resulting from pressure applied between the thumb and forefinger of the person applying the clasp.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved single use clasp formed from a single sheet of resilient material that is so arranged as to be securely locked in the clasp in closed position with the locking elements fully concealed to prevent inadvertent or unauthorized opening of the clasp without destroying the clasp.

In accordance with the invention, a single sheet of resilient material is preformed to have an upturned end wall joined to a bottom wall that is in turn joined to an overlying top wall by a resilient hinge portion at the end opposite the upturned end. The overlying top wall is formed with depending side wall portions and the upturned end wall is provided with a downwardly inturned flange on its upper end. Notches are formed on the ends of the depending side wall portions to be received under the inturned flange of the end wall to lock the clasp in the closed position when the top wall is moved towards the bottom wall to close the clasp. The side walls are provided with gripping means such as notches on their lower surfaces to grip an element to be clasped between the bottom wall and the side walls of the clasp in the closed position.

Further objects, features and the attending advantages of the invention will be apparent with reference to the following specification and drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the clasp in the clasp closed position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the clasp in the open position;

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 33 of FIG. 1 to show the closed position; and

PEG. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 with a portion of clasped bracelet also shown in section.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the clasp of the invention is preformed from a single sheet of resilient material such as tin plate or the like. The strip material is preformed to the configuration generally "ice shown by FIG. 2 of the drawing which shows the clasp in the open form before it is used. The remaining FIG- URES l, 3 and 4 of the drawing show the clasp in the closed form after the top Wall has been moved towards the bottom wall to secure the clasp by pressing the clasp between the thumb and forefinger.

More particularly, the clasp is comprised of a bottom Wall 10 having an upturned end wall 11 and an overlying top wall 12 joined tothe bottom wall It) by a resilient hinge portion 13. The bottom wall 10 may be provided with grooved indentations 14, 15 to facilitate the clasp action as will be readily understood. Also, the bottom wall 10 is provided with a book .16 which may be integrally formed by punching or the like. The book 16 may be passed through one end of a bracelet cord 26 such as shown at 21 to in effect permanently secure the clasp to one end of a bracelet or the like.

The upturned end wall 11 is provided with an inwardly and downwardly extending locking flange portion 22 on its upper end which functions to lock the clasp in the closed position as will be later described. The overlying top wall 12 is provided with integrally formed downwardly extending side walls 25, 26 and the end of each side wall 25, 26 is notched at 27, 28 to be received under the flange 22 when the clasp is closed as shown by FIG. 3 of the drawing. In addition, the top wall 12 may be provided with a downwardly extending front wall 30 adapted to partially overly the upturned front wall 11 and conceal the locking flange 22 in the clasp closed position as shown by FIGS. 1 and 3 of the draw- It will be noted by the dotted lines of FIG. 1 that the notched end portions 27, 28 of the side Walls 25, 26 are preferably formed by a respective inwardly extending wall 31, 3-2 and respective outwardly extending walls 33, 34. In such manner the locking notches 27, 28 are further concealed within the clasp structure when the clasp is closed. Furthermore, it may be desirable to provide side wall projections 35, 36 from the bottom wall 11' and upturned end wall 11 to further conceal the locking flange 22 and side wall notches 27, 28 when the clasp is closed.

One or both of the side :walls 25, 26 are provided with serrated edges or notches 37, 38 to grip the bracelet cord 20 as shown by FIG. 4 of the drawing.

Various modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim. For example, the concealing side wall members 35, 36 may be omitted. Also, the arrangement including the wall formations 31, 34 for moving the notched end portions 27, 2S inwardly of the side walls 25, 26 may be changed or. dispensed with provided that the notches 2'7, 23 are still enabled to cooperate with the locking flange 22 when closing the clasp. Since the clasp is preferably formed of resilient sheet material it should be obvious that once the clasp is closed it may not thereafter be opened except by deliberate destruction of the clasp. It should also be pointed out that although the punched hook structure 16 is preferred for connection of the clasp to a bracelet, other attachment elements may be used within the skill of the art.

I claim:

A single use clasp comprising, a preformed sheet of resilient material defining a bottom wall having an upturned end wall joined to said bottom wall and an overlying top wall joined to the other end of the bottom wall by a resilient hinge portion, a downwardly inturned flange on the upper end of said end \wall, side wall portions depending from said top wall, the ends of said side wall portions remote from said hinge portion being folded inwardly towards each other and then outwardly and notched to be received and locked under said inturned flange when said top Wall is moved towards said bottom Wall to close the clasp, side Wall projections extending upwardly from said bottom Wall and rearwardly from said upturned end Wall for a distance to substantially cover said inwardly folded portions of the ends of said side Walls when said clasp -is closed, a downturned end W311 extending across the free end of said top Wall spaced from and in front of the notched ends of said side Wa11s and adapted to over1ie said upturned end Wall when said clasp is closed, means in said bottom wall adapted to secure an element to be clasped, and gripping means on at least one of said side walls to clasp an element to be clasped between the bottom and side Walls when the clasp is closed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED sTATEs PATENTS OConnor Aug. 10, 1915 Klein et a1 Jan. 13, 1931 Frankel July 7, 1953 Twentier May 15, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 30, 1957 

